This fall, the Cobb Board of Commissioners is expected to consider a zoning request for a $200 million senior residential development proposed by Isakson Living, a firm with family ties to U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson.

Kevin Isakson of east Cobb, the senator’s son and marketing director for Isakson Living, said his firm has a 53.7-acre property on Roswell Road adjacent to East Cobb Park under contract to develop a 987-unit senior community.

Construction could begin next summer at the earliest with the first part of the development to possibly open in the spring of 2016. One-, two- and three-bedroom homes for seniors ages 62 and older are planned in four-story buildings. Homes will range from 1,800 square feet to 2,500 square feet.

Isakson anticipates 240 homes will be built in the first phase, complemented by about 75,000 square feet of amenity space for dining, fitness and other activities. The plan is for a 10-year build out.

The model Isakson Living is using is similar to the 398-unit senior development it built in Stone Mountain in 2004 called Park Springs.

The property is under contract with owner Wylene Tritt, who has lived there for 60 years.

“She has a beautiful piece of property and preserving that beauty is important to us not only as an amenity for those that will live in our community, but also for the surrounding area,” Isakson said.

Of the 53.7 acres, 21.5 acres will be undisturbed green space, he said.

“What’s enabling us to do that are certain elements of going to four-story buildings,” Isakson said. “We’re also putting our parking underground. It allows us to locate the community in the center of the property, which affords us the opportunity to provide pretty substantial buffering to the adjoining property owners.”

The plan is to build 837 independent living units and 150 health care units over the next 10 years, enhanced by dining, activities, entertainment, fitness and wellness.

There also will be on-site health services including assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing, Isakson said.

Commissioner Bob Ott, who represents the area, said he’s closely studying the proposal.

“Obviously it’s a very large project, but I think to address some of people’s concerns the developer has agreed to go out and meet with all the surrounding neighborhoods, providing everyone with the information they need, and also, since it’s proposed to be a 10-year build out, I think there’s less of a risk of ending up with the green pipes sticking out of the ground.”

Isakson said pricing has yet to be set.

“Residents pay an entry fee that equates to the value of that home, and will receive 90 percent of the entry fee back when they move out,” he said. “They don’t technically take title to the home. They have all the benefits as if they were the owner just none of the headache that comes with it.”

Isakson said over the coming months he will meet with area home owner associations to answer any questions.

County Chairman Tim Lee said east Cobb has a need for a senior residential development of this size.

“There is significant demand for that type of place,” Lee said.

Lee also believes the community will support the proposal once residents have a chance to review it.

“I think they will,” Lee said. “When we sit down and look at the whole package of where it’s located, the amount if green space that’s being maintained, the buffers being provided, the quality of the construction, you know, Kevin Isakson does a great job, so the quality of the construction will be there. It’s right next door to East Cobb Park, so it’s in a perfect place; it fits a need that’s growing in Cobb County, especially in the east Cobb area.”

Absolutely oppose! What a nonsense proposal!!! Buiding this big community at Walton school district? Walton is the one of the top high schools in GA, which makes the house value much higher than other area. People try to get into Walton is for their kids to get better education and living/study envirment. Putting a sernior living buildings in Walton school district will definitely negatively impact the house value. And, who will move in an expensive house/condo at rest of his/her life in a good school district with no kids to school?! I would rather spend less on house but more money to do whatever I am interested and improve my life quality.

These buildings are 5 stories, not 4. The first floor is parking, with 4 floors of residences above. But isaakson always says they are 4 stories. These buildings will likely be 60-65 ft tall, taller even than the Well-star monstrosity going up across the street.

Did anyone notice that this property is right next to East Cobb Park? That it will have an ugly FOUR story structure, will cause pollution runoff, will increase traffic to the area, will not add tax revenue to pay for the associated costs, and will be a detriment to the beauty of our park? What in the world are we doing this for --- except to make Senator Isakson's family some more money?

There is no need for this! I work with senior, and there are not enough seniors in this east cobb community to fill a 987 unit complex. Keep in mind 2 other senior communities are also trying to break ground on roswell road. This town does not need another senior community, we need less traffic, and more people to pay taxes that improve the education of the children in East Cobb. This rich kid is just trying his hand at the senior market here and there is just no need for another community. I'd like to see them get 50 down payments before building... the building will never happen.

Families with parents in AL/IL facilities in east cobb, most likely moved their parents here to be close to them. Try to get an independent 75 year old to move out of their house and to a different community. Its not easy. The need is not justified, end of story. Come back in another 20 years.

FYI most buy-ins are from the low $130,000 topping out at $200,000. AND THIS IS NOT RENT! Rent costs include a lot, but do you think your 70 year old parent can make that money stretch for that long?? Paying 4-5-6,000 dollars a month in just rent? Its not realistic!

The development sounds fantastic, especially if you have parents who are reluctant to leave the area in east Cobb where they've raised their families and where all their services are. I just wish my own mom was still here to move in.

Meanwhile, the "movement" to discontinue the senior tax exemption hasn't gained much steam, to the disappointment of the few who continue to advocate for it anonymously. I believe if you've lived in Cobb and paid your taxes for years, it's a fantastic thing. On the other hand, perhaps it's time for the state legislature to take a look at putting some qualifications on the perk. With the aging of the county and stream of tax exempt seniors moving here specifically due to that (never having paid any Cobb tax....and I see the trend in west Cobb) one wonders if things are "sustainable."

How about an exemption for men since men cannot bear children? To exempt based on age is called age discrimination, same as an exemption for men would be sex discrimination.

The higher the value of a home, the higher the percentage school tax should be paid by its owner. If your home's worth is in the lowest 20% of home values, you should pay a tiny school tax. If you retired but kept your $800,000 McMansion on a fifth acre requiring daily use of 15 miles of public roads for you to go anywhere, you should be paying the 2nd highest percentage. If you rent out a home you own, you should pay double the McMansion rate for school taxes. And if you own an apartment complex, you should be paying quadruple the McMasion school tax rate, calculated on the highest value EVER for your property even if that's when it was new 12 years ago.

yourarepitiful

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June 09, 2013

You are a group of ignorant human beings. Why are Cobb residents so opposed to the elderly? I am 38 years of age but I love my grandparents and parents and they do not sit around and go no where beyond the cafeteria. They work, travel, shop and live like us all. I hope your children throw you out in the streets when you get old--and you will get old!!!

When finished everyone will be locked up tight on the inside with walls & one window. The outside will be compliant to the east cobb area. Trouble is, in 10 years with no social security checks to pay monthly, people will not be able to afford the nice home surroundings. A cliff is coming and old folks are going to be pushed right off of it !!!!!!

@ Problem for Schools. What you and a half dozen other out of touch individuals do not realize is that more revenue is not the answer to the shcool problems. Cobb County Schools' problem is not that they don't get enough revenue, but how they use what they have. They are top heavy by 50%, they spend money on new technology that sits and collects dusts because nobody knows how to use it and it it would not be worth diddly if they got it working. The waste in the school district is obscene.

If you take away the senior exemption (which ain;t gonna happen) and find you stil have the same problem, what is your next answer?

Copletely agree, Devlin. Look closely at the 2 plus million dollar Telematics system that CCSD Transportation insisted it needed, and never did work. I hear there's a warehouse full of unused technology the CCSD sits on...where are investigators into this stash of crap?

And they continue to "balance" the budget on the backs of the teachers and lower level employees.

Guessinghigh

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June 09, 2013

O.K. Now that I am 65 years old and on a fixed-income, how much will it cost me to enter one of these homes?

The cat, it is out of the bag. Here is why Cobb County keeps working so hard at garnering national attention for being out of touch. Isakson is building an old folks home. It was pretty clear somebody was working on that. Are A.J. King and the MDJ his business partner in this venture? Because they are constantly advertising for the elderly to come here!

Actually an old folks home in East Cobb is a great idea. That is who should live there. Since you can't get anywhere from there, the people living there should be those who don't go anywhere beyond the cafeteria.

More seniors, great! I have no problem with seniors as my parents are seniors. What I do have a problem with is that they pay no taxes for the schools. We need to repeal the senior tax because our schools in CCSD are losing fabulous teachers to other counties. We need the politicians to stop cutting school funding!

Yeah it's a shame how many classrooms were full of kids but had no teacher this year.

West bob

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June 09, 2013

I am retired from the Cobb county school system. Luckily my home is paid for and I don't have a lot of debt. My retirement from the school system and my social security add up to a monthly income of $1400 before taxes. If I have to start paying school taxes, I will probably loose my home. Keep in mind that I did pay school taxes for 44 years. Please don't change the senior exemption.

West bob

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June 09, 2013

Seniors such as your parents that can afford to pay the tax can always give a donation to the school system or an individual school. I plan to donate my time in volunteer work because I don't have the money.

Pay Up Seniorx

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June 10, 2013

Absolutely the senior exemption needs to go! Households headed by those 65 and older have a net worth 47 times greater than those headed by someone 35 and younger.

Senior discounts need to go as well. Business Insider was on top of this when they reported that "Millenials want Senior Discounts."

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